The South Shore is in the process of completely replacing its catenary, and this includes the famous "Ideal Section" near Miller. The bridges will be scrapped in about a week unless we can come up with the money to save them. Here's a link to a good picture of what they look like.
So our friend Andy Sunderland writes:
To anyone who is interested: Bob Harris is scrapping South Shore catenary bridges from the ideal section near Miller IN. IRM has no money to buy them. Bob will sell them for an estimated scrap value of $500 each. Now is your chance to help IRM to preserve a portion of history. Contact me so I can tell Bob to save them. We need to know in about one week. Andrew Sunderland
You can email Andy directly; his email address is trolleyman1100 at yahoo dot com. Thanks!
You can email Andy directly; his email address is trolleyman1100 at yahoo dot com. Thanks!
I will buy 2.
ReplyDeleteDavid Church
illinidrc@hotmail.com
where would IRM propose to use these?
ReplyDeleteI have the same question. Perhaps Johnson Siding? These represent so much of what Mr. Sam had for the super inter urban. North Shore even planned one day to convert to catenary.
ReplyDeleteI might even match 1for1 IF I could be sure they would be restored and used.
David Church
illinidrc@hotmail.com
I meant to say that North Shiore planned one day to convert to usings pans. These bridges were THE Skokie Valley as well as the Ideal section, tho on North Shore, most were alternately supportted half on the Insull owned high tension towers.
ReplyDeleteThey would be a fantastic addition to IRM.
David Church
illinidrc@hotmail.com
I can't remember how long the Ideal section was, 1 Mile perhaps? If that is the case, then each catenary span was spaced out 250 feet apart. That means there at least 21 spans available. For $10K to $15K, IRM would have enough spans for any future projects.
ReplyDeleteKenneth MacLeod
I am kind of surprised. I have offered to buy at least 2 bridges, and perhaps match other purchases. NO ONE has commented or contacted me or expressed any interest. I emailed the link provided, and no contact there either.
ReplyDeleteIs it really this hard to contribute funds?
Don't mean this as harsh, but I am really surprised. I hope something happens before the bridges are indeed scrapped.
David Church
illinidrc@hotmail.com
If you obtain enough of those Ideal Section catenary towers, will the current Johnson Siding towers from the CSS&SB's Hammond area be replaced eventually with them?
ReplyDeleteA good Idea would be to replace the overhead with those towers at the other IRM main line passing siding
Kinda what I thought as well. Johnson siding is so close the CSS&SB Ideal Section AS well as NS Skokie Valley (sans high tension towers), that I think that is the perfect section along which to put them to use.
ReplyDeleteThe existing SouthShore Cross spans would look great at the east end siding.
My 2 cents worth.
David Church.
illinidrc@hotmail.com